Depression: Should I Take Antidepressants While I'm Pregnant?

Guides through decision to take antidepressants while pregnant. Covers SSRIs (Zoloft and Prozac) and tricyclic antidepressants. Lists reasons for and against medicines. Covers benefits and risks. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Depression: Should I Take Antidepressants While I'm Pregnant?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Your options

Key points to remember

Some types of depression medicines are less
likely to harm your baby than others. More research is needed before doctors
can say for sure that any antidepressant is completely safe for the baby.

If you don't treat your
depression, it could harm your baby, because people
who are depressed can have a hard time caring for themselves. And after your
baby is born, you may be more likely to suffer from
postpartum depression, which can cause serious
problems for both you and your newborn.

The decision about whether
to take depression medicine while you are pregnant depends a lot on how bad
your symptoms are. Talk to your doctor, and compare the risks of taking the
medicine with the risks of living with your symptoms.

If you were
taking medicine for depression before you got pregnant, stopping now could
cause your symptoms to come back. Also, quitting antidepressants suddenly can
cause you to feel like you have the flu. Talk to your doctor first.

Depression is an illness that
makes you feel sad and hopeless much of the time. It is different from normal
feelings of sadness or low energy. It can have a very big effect on your life,
your work, your health, and the people you care about. Many pregnant women
struggle with depression.

More research is
needed before doctors can say for sure that any antidepressant is completely
safe for the baby. There are several types of antidepressant medicine.
Some types are less likely to harm your baby than others. Some may slightly increase the risk of certain birth defects.

For pregnant women, doctors may choose
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), such
as Prozac or Zoloft, or
tricyclic antidepressants.

You may have
side effects from SSRIs or tricyclics, but they will usually go away within the
first few weeks. Common side effects include:

Stomach upset or loss of
appetite.

Diarrhea.

Feeling anxious or on
edge.

Sleep problems or drowsiness.

Loss of sexual
desire.

Headaches.

If you were taking antidepressants at the end of your
pregnancy, your newborn may need to stay in the hospital for a few extra days.
This is so that doctors can watch for any signs that the drug is affecting your baby. These signs
sound scary, but they are usually mild and go away in a few days. They include:

Mild breathing problems.

Crying
more than is usual.

Having trouble feeding.

Having
seizures (in rare cases).

If you are worried about this, talk to your doctor about
gradually stopping your medicine a week or two before your due date.

When depression is not treated during pregnancy, it can harm both mother
and child. If you don't treat your depression:

You may not eat well or get enough
sleep.

You may smoke and drink.

You may think about
killing yourself.

You may not go to the doctor as often as you
should.

You may deliver early and have a baby that weighs less than
it should.2

You will be more likely to
have postpartum depression after the birth. Postpartum depression may make it hard
to care for and bond with your baby.

Never stop taking an antidepressant suddenly. If you have
been taking medicine to treat depression and then find out you are pregnant,
talk to your doctor. If you decide to stop taking the medicine, you will need
to lower your dose slowly, with your doctor's help.

Your symptoms are serious enough that you can't take care of
yourself the way you need to in order to stay healthy for your
baby.

You have tried other treatment, and it hasn't helped.

Compare your options

Compare

What is usually involved?

What are the benefits?

What are the risks and side effects?

Take antidepressants
Take antidepressants

You take pills or liquid
medicine on a regular schedule.

Your symptoms are kept
under control so that you can take care of yourself and stay healthy for your
baby.

You are less likely to get
postpartum depression.

With symptoms under
control, you are less likely to have an early delivery and have a baby that
weighs less than it should.2

Common side
effects include:

Stomach problems.

Feeling
anxious or on edge.

Sleep problems.

Loss of sexual
desire.

Headaches.

More research is needed before doctors can say
for sure that any antidepressant is completely safe for the
baby.

Newborns whose mothers took antidepressants at the end of
pregnancy may need to stay in the hospital a few extra days to be watched for any problems caused by the drug.

Don't take
antidepressants Don't take
antidepressants

You treat your
depression with counseling, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). Many studies show that CBT helps mild to moderate depression as much as antidepressants.1 You can also help your depression with exercise and support.

You avoid the risk of
harming your baby with medicines.

If you have only mild to moderate depression,
counseling alone may be enough to help you feel better. Studies show that people who receive CBT have lower rates of relapse after treatment has stopped compared to people treated only with antidepressants.3

You may
not be able to control your depression, which has risks:

Depressed moms are less likely to take care
of themselves and stay healthy for the baby.

Personal stories

Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide.

Personal stories about taking antidepressants during pregnancy

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

It's hard to
admit you're depressed, especially when you're pregnant. Everyone expects you
to be happy and "glowing." I struggled with depression off and on for about 10
years, and I know that medicine works for me. I've talked to my doctor and done
a lot of reading about depression and pregnancy. My doctor and I both think
that it would probably hurt me and my baby more if I did not take
antidepressants.

Cindy,
age 27

I was sailing along with my pregnancy,
doing great, until my sixth month. I started feeling tired all the time—much
more than just the usual tired from being pregnant. And I was moody and just
really sad. It kind of scared me, so I asked my doctor about it. He said I had
depression, and he suggested I try counseling. It really helped. My counselor
was great. I was able to have my beautiful baby girl without taking
antidepressants.

Fala,
age 19

I had always thought that if you had
depression and wanted to get pregnant, you should be prepared to suffer,
because doctors don't want pregnant women to take antidepressants. But my
doctor said the pros outweigh the cons in my case. He kept me on my
antidepressant through my pregnancy. I'm so glad. My depression stayed under
control, and I had a healthy baby boy.

Nathalie, age 32

I had a bout
of depression when I was 18 and was on antidepressants. When I decided to get
pregnant, it was really important to me that I not take anything that could
possibly hurt my baby. I started having some symptoms of depression during my
second month. I talked to my doctor, and he sent me to a therapist who is
helping me keep my symptoms under control, mostly. But I know I have to be
careful not to let things get out of hand. And I know there's a chance I may
need to take antidepressants after my baby is born.

Amaia, age 22

What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to take antidepressants while you're pregnant

Reasons not to take antidepressants while you're pregnant

I'm worried about what my depression may do to my baby.

I am afraid to take any medicine that might possibly harm my baby.

More important

Equally important

More important

I don't think I can control my depression symptoms without the medicine.

I think I can control my symptoms by seeing my counselor and going to my doctor appointments.

More important

Equally important

More important

I think my depression symptoms would do more harm to my baby than the medicine would.

I think the medicines would harm my baby more than my depression symptoms would.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Taking antidepressants while I'm pregnant

NOT taking antidepressants during my pregnancy

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.

If I don't treat my depression, it could harm my baby.

True That's correct. People who suffer from depression often don't take care of their health. And if you're depressed, you may not go to the doctor as often as you should.

False That's not right. People who suffer from depression often don't take care of their health. And if you're depressed, you may not go to the doctor as often as you should.

I'm not sure It may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." People who suffer from depression often don't take care of their health. So if you don't treat your depression, it could be harmful for your baby.

2.

Some depression medicines are less likely to harm my baby than others.

True That's right. More research is needed before doctors can say for sure that any antidepressant is completely safe for the baby. But some types are less likely to harm your baby than others.

False Sorry, you're wrong. More research is needed before doctors can say for sure that any antidepressant is completely safe for the baby. But some types are less likely to harm your baby than others.

I'm not sure It may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." Although more research is needed, some types of antidepressants are considered safer for the baby than others.

3.

If I was taking antidepressants before I got pregnant, stopping could make my symptoms come back.

True That's correct. And if the symptoms come back, that could be unhealthy for the baby.

False No, that's wrong. Stopping the medicines could make the symptoms come back. And that could be unhealthy for the baby.

I'm not sure It may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." Stopping the medicines could make the symptoms come back. And that could be unhealthy for the baby.

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Depression: Should I Take Antidepressants While I'm Pregnant?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Compare your options

What matters most to you?

Where are you leaning now?

What else do you need to make your decision?

1. Get the Facts

Your options

Take medicine for your
depression.

Try other treatment instead.

Key points to remember

Some types of depression medicines are less
likely to harm your baby than others. More research is needed before doctors
can say for sure that any antidepressant is completely safe for the baby.

If you don't treat your
depression, it could harm your baby, because people
who are depressed can have a hard time caring for themselves. And after your
baby is born, you may be more likely to suffer from
postpartum depression, which can cause serious
problems for both you and your newborn.

The decision about whether
to take depression medicine while you are pregnant depends a lot on how bad
your symptoms are. Talk to your doctor, and compare the risks of taking the
medicine with the risks of living with your symptoms.

If you were
taking medicine for depression before you got pregnant, stopping now could
cause your symptoms to come back. Also, quitting antidepressants suddenly can
cause you to feel like you have the flu. Talk to your doctor first.

FAQs

What is depression?

Depression is an illness that
makes you feel sad and hopeless much of the time. It is different from normal
feelings of sadness or low energy. It can have a very big effect on your life,
your work, your health, and the people you care about. Many pregnant women
struggle with depression.

What are the risks of taking antidepressants while you are pregnant?

More research is
needed before doctors can say for sure that any antidepressant is completely
safe for the baby. There are several types of antidepressant medicine.
Some types are less likely to harm your baby than others. Some may slightly increase the risk of certain birth defects.

For pregnant women, doctors may choose
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), such
as Prozac or Zoloft, or
tricyclic antidepressants.

You may have
side effects from SSRIs or tricyclics, but they will usually go away within the
first few weeks. Common side effects include:

Stomach upset or loss of
appetite.

Diarrhea.

Feeling anxious or on
edge.

Sleep problems or drowsiness.

Loss of sexual
desire.

Headaches.

If you were taking antidepressants at the end of your
pregnancy, your newborn may need to stay in the hospital for a few extra days.
This is so that doctors can watch for any signs that the drug is affecting your baby. These signs
sound scary, but they are usually mild and go away in a few days. They include:

Mild breathing problems.

Crying
more than is usual.

Having trouble feeding.

Having
seizures (in rare cases).

If you are worried about this, talk to your doctor about
gradually stopping your medicine a week or two before your due date.

What are the risks of NOT taking antidepressants?

When depression is not treated during pregnancy, it can harm both mother
and child. If you don't treat your depression:

You may not eat well or get enough
sleep.

You may smoke and drink.

You may think about
killing yourself.

You may not go to the doctor as often as you
should.

You may deliver early and have a baby that weighs less than
it should.2

You will be more likely to
have postpartum depression after the birth. Postpartum depression may make it hard
to care for and bond with your baby.

Never stop taking an antidepressant suddenly. If you have
been taking medicine to treat depression and then find out you are pregnant,
talk to your doctor. If you decide to stop taking the medicine, you will need
to lower your dose slowly, with your doctor's help.

What other treatment is available?

Counseling is an important part of treatment for
depression. If you have only mild depression, counseling alone may be enough to
help you feel better.

Your symptoms are serious enough that you can't take care of
yourself the way you need to in order to stay healthy for your
baby.

You have tried other treatment, and it hasn't helped.

2. Compare your options

Take antidepressants

Don't take
antidepressants

What is usually involved?

You take pills or liquid
medicine on a regular schedule.

You treat your
depression with counseling, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). Many studies show that CBT helps mild to moderate depression as much as antidepressants.1 You can also help your depression with exercise and support.

What are the benefits?

Your symptoms are kept
under control so that you can take care of yourself and stay healthy for your
baby.

You are less likely to get
postpartum depression.

With symptoms under
control, you are less likely to have an early delivery and have a baby that
weighs less than it should.2

You avoid the risk of
harming your baby with medicines.

If you have only mild to moderate depression,
counseling alone may be enough to help you feel better. Studies show that people who receive CBT have lower rates of relapse after treatment has stopped compared to people treated only with antidepressants.3

What are the risks and side effects?

Common side
effects include:

Stomach problems.

Feeling
anxious or on edge.

Sleep problems.

Loss of sexual
desire.

Headaches.

More research is needed before doctors can say
for sure that any antidepressant is completely safe for the
baby.

Newborns whose mothers took antidepressants at the end of
pregnancy may need to stay in the hospital a few extra days to be watched for any problems caused by the drug.

You may
not be able to control your depression, which has risks:

Depressed moms are less likely to take care
of themselves and stay healthy for the baby.

Personal stories

Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These
personal stories
may help you decide.

Personal stories about taking antidepressants during pregnancy

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

"It's hard to admit you're depressed, especially when you're pregnant. Everyone expects you to be happy and "glowing." I struggled with depression off and on for about 10 years, and I know that medicine works for me. I've talked to my doctor and done a lot of reading about depression and pregnancy. My doctor and I both think that it would probably hurt me and my baby more if I did not take antidepressants."

— Cindy,
age 27

"I was sailing along with my pregnancy, doing great, until my sixth month. I started feeling tired all the time—much more than just the usual tired from being pregnant. And I was moody and just really sad. It kind of scared me, so I asked my doctor about it. He said I had depression, and he suggested I try counseling. It really helped. My counselor was great. I was able to have my beautiful baby girl without taking antidepressants."

— Fala,
age 19

"I had always thought that if you had depression and wanted to get pregnant, you should be prepared to suffer, because doctors don't want pregnant women to take antidepressants. But my doctor said the pros outweigh the cons in my case. He kept me on my antidepressant through my pregnancy. I'm so glad. My depression stayed under control, and I had a healthy baby boy."

— Nathalie, age 32

"I had a bout of depression when I was 18 and was on antidepressants. When I decided to get pregnant, it was really important to me that I not take anything that could possibly hurt my baby. I started having some symptoms of depression during my second month. I talked to my doctor, and he sent me to a therapist who is helping me keep my symptoms under control, mostly. But I know I have to be careful not to let things get out of hand. And I know there's a chance I may need to take antidepressants after my baby is born."

— Amaia, age 22

3. What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to take antidepressants while you're pregnant

Reasons not to take antidepressants while you're pregnant

I'm worried about what my depression may do to my baby.

I am afraid to take any medicine that might possibly harm my baby.

More important

Equally important

More important

I don't think I can control my depression symptoms without the medicine.

I think I can control my symptoms by seeing my counselor and going to my doctor appointments.

More important

Equally important

More important

I think my depression symptoms would do more harm to my baby than the medicine would.

I think the medicines would harm my baby more than my depression symptoms would.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

4. Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Taking antidepressants while I'm pregnant

NOT taking antidepressants during my pregnancy

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

5. What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.
If I don't treat my depression, it could harm my baby.

True

False

I'm not sure

That's correct. People who suffer from depression often don't take care of their health. And if you're depressed, you may not go to the doctor as often as you should.

2.
Some depression medicines are less likely to harm my baby than others.

True

False

I'm not sure

That's right. More research is needed before doctors can say for sure that any antidepressant is completely safe for the baby. But some types are less likely to harm your baby than others.

3.
If I was taking antidepressants before I got pregnant, stopping could make my symptoms come back.

True

False

I'm not sure

That's correct. And if the symptoms come back, that could be unhealthy for the baby.

Decide what's next

1.
Do you understand the options available to you?

Yes

No

2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?

Yes

No

3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?

Yes

No

Certainty

1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision?

Not sure at all

Somewhat sure

Very sure

2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision.

I'm ready to take action.

I want to discuss the options with others.

I want to learn more about my options.

3.
Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

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